The blog of Peirce College, located in Philadelphia, features coverage of continuing education, degree programs, and online learning for working adults interested in earning bachelor's degrees in business, information technology, healthcare, and paralegal studies. It also includes associate and graduate degree education information.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Please join me in welcoming Charles (Chuck) A. Wright, III as Vice President of Institutional Advancement for Peirce College. Today, Monday, April 26, 2010, is Mr. Wright's first official day in his new position.

Position will lead the College's fundraising, development, alumni relations and community relations initiatives

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peirce College announced Charles A. Wright, III has joined the College as vice president, institutional advancement.

In his position, Wright will be responsible for creating, developing and executing Peirce’s development, alumni relations, and community relations plans and integrating them into an Institutional Advancement program. He will report to James J. Mergiotti, Peirce president and chief executive officer.

“Charles (Chuck) Wright is a highly experienced, results-oriented development person who is perfectly suited to re-establish Peirce’s institutional advancement function. He brings many years of development and higher education experience to the position,” Mergiotti said. “He has a proven track record of fundraising and ‘friendraising’ in this region, which will strongly contribute to Peirce’s continued success.”

Wright was formerly vice president for development with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The vice president, institutional advancement is a critical position within the executive leadership of the College and a key component of the strategic plan, the focal point for alumni engagement and outreach, and the driver of Peirce’s efforts to create a culture of philanthropy.

“This position is the front line of institutional outreach for Peirce,” Mergiotti said. “We were looking for an individual who is prepared to build the College’s Advancement program. Particularly, this is someone with specific knowledge of philanthropy in the Philadelphia region and a strong network in the area’s business community. Chuck, with his extensive experience in higher education, gives us that edge.”

Peirce College operates within a highly competitive educational environment in Philadelphia and is in excellent financial shape with strong enrollment prospects and outstanding program quality. Within the last 15 years Peirce undertook renovations of its facilities, developed a flourishing distance learning delivery model for its academic programs, and engaged local partnerships with corporations as well as other educational institutions.

“As Peirce generates exciting new ideas from its planning processes, new resources must be identified to support future initiatives,” Wright said. “While reconnecting with the Philadelphia community, we must focus on our visibility and brand, as we build greater support among alumni and friends of the College. My role is to support those activities by developing giving programs, the organization of alumni relations, and the identification of ways for Peirce to engage its graduates and community.

“We will actively connect with the city and state, and implement the College’s strategic outreach and fundraising initiatives. The goal will be to have a fully functioning and growing advancement program that promotes the visibility of the College, marshals the strength of Peirce alumni, and represents a solid return on the College’s investment by contributing through an active fundraising program to Peirce’s ability to fund its educational priorities.”

In addition to his position with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Wright has held development and fundraising positions at Villanova and Widener universities and was formerly with Systems & Computer Technology in Malvern, Pa., and Grenzebach Glier and Associates in Chicago.

Wright received a Bachelor of Arts in General Arts from Villanova University and attended Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education Management Development Program. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a former member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Board, for which he has served as conference and operations committee co-chair. Wright is past recipient of Promising Young Professional Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary Schools and College Admissions Counselors (PASSCAC) and a former member PASSCAC and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC).

About Peirce College
Peirce College offers bachelor’s and associate degree programs in Business Administration, Information Technology and Paralegal Studies. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 (phone: 267-284-5000). The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs accredits the College's business program and the Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association.

For more information about Peirce College, call 888.GO.PEIRCE, or visit www.peirce.edu.